How To: Setup Linksys WRT54G as Wireless Bridge

I decided that instead of buying the Linksys Wireless Bridge product that I would try to setup the Linksys Wireless Router (WRT54G) I already had as a wireless bridge. I needed to connect my XBOX 360 (Location: Basement) to the wireless network with out having a wireless adapter for it. The main wireless router I will be connecting to is located on the 2nd floor.

In order to do this, I had to go out and download the "wrt54g alchemy firmware" version 6rc5 from the web. This is only compatible with certain models of the device (wrt54g v2.2 and wrt54gs v1.1). You will need to hard wire your PC to the router for the initial setup. After you have downloaded it, you will need to upload it to the router from the Administration - Firmware Upgrade page the web interface for the router. After this is completed, here are the steps below to get it connected to your existing wireless network.

1. In the Setup - Basic Setup screen, set the Internet Connection Type to "Automatic Configuration - DHCP".
2. On the same page, set the local IP to 192.168.1.129 assuming your main router is 192.168.1.x.
3. Set the Subnet Mask to 255.255.255.128.
4. Set the Gateway to the IP address of the main router (i.e. 192.168.1.1).
5. Set the DHCP Server to Enabled and the starting IP address to 150.
6. Save the settings on this page. You will need to reboot your computer at this point.
7. Log back into the router's web interface by going to 192.168.1.129.
8. On the Setup - Advanced Routing screen, check to see if the operating mode is set to Gateway.
9. On the Wireless - Basic Settings screen, set the Wireless Mode to "Client", the Wireless Network Mode to "Mixed", and the SSID to the main router's SSID.
10. On the Wireless - Security screen, set your WPA setting to match the main wireless router's settings and save the settings
    
11. At this point, you should be connected to the main wireless router. You can verify this by going to Status - Router page and you should see an IP address assigned by the main wireless router.
12. On the Security - Firewall screen, disable Firewall Protection because you are protected by the main wireless router's firewall. Also, make sure that "Block Anonymous Internet Requests" is unchecked.
13. (Optional) To enable PCs attached to the main router to be able connect to PCs attached to the wrt54g: Login into the wrt54g using telnel or ssh by running the command "telnet 192.168.1.129" and use same root/passwd as for the web interface. Then type this command (copy it exactly):
    
    # echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/conf/`route | grep default | awk '{print $NF}'`/proxy_arp
    

This worked flawlessly for me and I hope it does for you as well. If you have any question, leave a comment and I will respond.

Ridiculous Music Video

This weekend I was looking for slang terms for money while working on Project Y. I came across this ridiculous music video about money. It is pretty funny. Let me know what you think and listen for the slang references for money.

Top 10 Christmas Movies

The Chicago Tribune published their top 25 Christmas movies. Let me first say that they had a lot of the right movies in the list, but in the wrong order. Some of the movies I had never even heard of. I would consider myself a bit of a Christmas nut and if I haven't even heard of them, then how can it be a top Christmas movie.

With that being said, some of the guys at work suggested that I come up with my top 10 Christmas movie list. This is the top 10 as I see it.

10. Christmas With the Kranks (2004)

With their daughter away, her parents decide to skip Christmas altogether until she decides to come home, causing an uproar when they have to celebrate the holidays at the last minute. I enjoyed this movie when it came out and still watch every year at this time.



9. It's A Wonderful Life (1946)


An angel helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would had been like if he never existed.






8. Charile Brown's Christmas (1965)



Repelled by the commercialism he sees around him, Charlie Brown tries to find the true meaning of Christmas.



7. Frosty the Snowman (1969)



A living snowman and a little girl struggle to elude a greedy magician who is after the snowman's magic hat.



6. Home Alone (1990)



An eight year-old, who is accidentally left behind while his family flies to France for Christmas, has to defend his home against idiotic burglars.



5. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)


A misfit reindeer and his friends look for a place that will accept them.




4. Dr. Suess's How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)



A grumpy hermit hatches a plan to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville.



3. The Santa Clause (1994)



When a man inadvertently kills Santa on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place.



2. Christmas Vacation (1989)



The Griswold family's plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.



1. A Christmas Story (1983)



Ralphie has to convince his parents, teachers, and Santa that a Red Ryder BB gun really is the perfect gift for the 1940's.


This is the list as I see it. I hope you enjoy. Let me know what you think.

Short Ends: Touch Dong's Body

This is one of the funniest things I have seen in a while. It is a kid doing his version of Mariah Carey's "Touch My Body". Pretty funny. Just click here and then click play.

Ubiquity for Firefox

I ran across this extension called Ubiquity for Firefox. It is very versitile and I can see it being very useful. See the video below.



Ubiquity for Firefox from Aza Raskin on Vimeo.